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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” echoed around the City Ground as Nottingham Forest followers reveled in another result against their Swedish opponents. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the continental trophy back in the year 1979, but Forest still hold dear those glorious moments. Similarly, significant changes have taken place in the weeks since Sean Dyche took charge, with the team appearing refreshed and securing a convincing win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, boosting their prospects of progressing in the European competition.

Building Steam with Third Consecutive Victory

For Nottingham Forest, this performance – against a Malmö side that had not played for almost three weeks after finishing in sixth place in their home competition – represented a third consecutive triumph across every tournament and added to the momentum gained from the previous week's success at Anfield. While this fixture was a re-run of the club's European Cup success in spirit, the encounter itself was devoid of any real tension or jitters.

It proved to be an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third competitive meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest leaned into the heritage, honoring the heroes of 1979 by giving them, along with their Malmö counterparts, the red-carpet treatment. 13 members of the Malmö's squad from that time were additionally present. Both teams shared a meal together prior to the match. Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and company were given a rousing welcome when they assembled on the field a quarter of an hour before kick-off, and a characteristically impressive tifo was unveiled in the Trent End.

Recalling History

“May 30, 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” displayed half of a large tifo, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what ensued, the remaining section was unfurled as the players came out from the dressing rooms. “There is Francis,” it continued. Another stunning tifo depicted Clough observing proceedings beside his assistant Peter Taylor on a bench at the Olympiastadion.

Control from the Outset

So, the hosts had drunk in those wonderful memories, but what about the showing on the night? It was strong, too. They were in full command from the moment the forward fired an effort off target inside two minutes and built a 2-0 lead by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Abbott, on his first European start, had a go.

It felt fitting that Ryan Yates, who came to Forest as an eight-year-old, made the initial breakthrough in the Malmö defence captained by their own academy product skipper, Pontus Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford. The Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic saw a delivery deflect off a defender and into the path of Yates, who finished right-footed from just inside the penalty area to score his maiden strike since last March.

Second Strike Seals Control

The scorer was implicated in the team's second goal on the verge of half-time, as well, his unmarked header saved by the goalkeeper Melker Ellborg but the alert forward on hand to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker given a seldom start and only his second appearance since September, was the catalyst, chipping a perfect ball towards Yates at the back post.

Just moments before, Callum Hudson-Odoi low effort was deflected wide off Malmö back Rösler, son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe, and an free Milenkovic had previously had a powerful header smartly saved by the keeper, who returned in place of the former Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Malmö’s Difficulties

This was the Swedish side's initial game since the domestic league concluded on 9 November, and they struggled to match Forest’s energy. The Reds extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot blocked, but the Serbia defender Milenkovic pounced on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi chipping a right-foot shot on to the bar before Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. Dyche, mindful of the upcoming league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, implemented multiple alterations from the side that surprised the Reds at Anfield last weekend, when they additionally netted three times, though he called on substitutes and Igor Jesus during the second half.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Nottingham Forest. Dyche could withdraw the defender with the game already boxed off and later introduced 19-year-old full-back Sinclair for his first-team debut. He talked about the Forest old guard supplying “bits of gold” at regular meetings and, almost five decades on, the present squad demonstrated they are able of producing of excitement, too.